LOOKING BACK: New cinema, teacher shortages and river boating hopes
Mr Aubrey’s new cinema
From the Groat of September 5, 1924
Preliminary arrangements were being carried out and it was expected that a start would soon be made on the building work for Mr Aubrey’s new Pavilion Picture House in Wick.
It was reported that Mr Aubrey had secured “an excellent site fronting the High Street just down from his present Pavilion, and when completed the new Picture House will be a decided enhancement of the architectural features of the town.
“It will indeed be the most striking frontage in that part of High Street. The building will be equipped with all the latest improvements and comforts of a modern place of entertainment of this order.”
The report went on to: “Mr and Mrs Aubrey must be congratulated on their enterprise and we are sure their numerous patrons will not only watch the progress of the building with interest but will also join in the cordial hope that the venture may be rewarded with a full measure of success.”
Elsewhere, the John O’Groat Motor Cycling Club held its open speed trials on the private road to Noss Head. There was considerable interest among spectators and “the trials were of a thrilling nature”.
The fastest time of the day was recorded by Norman Hatje, Wick, who attained a speed of 69.2 mph on a three-and-a-half hp Sunbeam.
Teacher shortage at local schools
From the Groat of September 6, 1974
Caithness was facing its worst-ever shortage of teachers and it was feared that pupils would soon be crammed 45 to a class, with part-time education for many youngsters a strong possibility if the situation did not improve.
The situation was highlighted at a “gloomy” meeting of Caithness Education Committee, and so serious was the problem that a special committee on staffing had been set up.
Wick High rector John Ross said that his school would soon have to drop seven timetabled sessions – two in remedial studies and one each in art, biology, technical, music and English.
Thurso rector Dr William Young said the situation there was particularly bad in the maths and English departments. He warned that the following year pupils in the west of the county might have to study unsupervised in the assembly hall.
Committee chairman Tom Pollok said he didn’t hold out much hope that the county could fill all the vacant posts. He told the meeting that he had “never experienced anything like this situation before”.
Meanwhile, it was hoped to run a series of classes in Wick for fishermen as part of the winter continuing education syllabus.
Covered in the sessions would be a preliminary course for fishermen studying for certificates,-coastal navigation and/or a general course covering such topics as wheelhouse equipment, net mending and design.
River boating revival hopes
From the Groat of September 10, 1999
Pleasure boating could return to Wick River if the Army was prepared to lend a helping hand, members of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council were told.
The Royal Engineers were considering whether to take on the construction work needed at the site of the old river weirs as a project.
Vice-chairperson Kathy Wares explained that Army representatives were due to visit the town in the coming weeks to assess the scheme.
A plan setting out the work that would need to be carried out at the river had been drawn up by Caithness District Council’s former director of technical services, Mike Lunny, some years previously but lack of money meant it had never been put into operation.
The community council had long called for works to be carried out to the river so that pleasure boating could be reinstated.
Elsewhere, a Wick mother-of-two who helped her brother fight illness by donating a kidney to him had been named Wick’s Best Mum after being nominated by her six-year-old daughter.
Evelyne Bisset, of Thurso Road, was “surprised and delighted” to learn that she had been awarded the title in the Woolworths competition being run to mark the opening of the refurbished town-centre store.
Evelyne was to become a celebrity for the day when the Woolies store reopened, and would cut the ribbon and enjoy a champagne breakfast with staff.
